Wooster School Green Initiatives
Wooster’s long tradition as a self-help school, that prides itself on a culture of community involvement and enhancement, feeds a direct need to care for our local and global environment through conservation and recycling efforts. Quite simply, our goal is to recycle anything and everything we can on campus and to make thoughtful choices about best practices for disposables and food waste.
Through hands-on experience at Wooster School, students will understand the value of maintaining the well being of our campus, but also take skills and sensibilities learned here out into the workforce to enact a wave of change in the industries they go on to work for/in.
Recycling
Recycling on campus includes:
- Paper (paper, magazines, art paper, junk mail, phone books)
- Cardboard (flattened)
- Plastic (EMPTY containers of any kind #1-7)
- Glass
Recycling bins are paired with every trash bin on campus for strategic visibility and ease of use.
Sorting and properly disposing of all recyclables will be handled by Wooster students during our ‘jobs program.’
Battery Recycling
Non-rechargeable batteries are collected monthly in a bin and sent to be recycled by Battery Solutions which maintains all applicable state and federal certifications to comply with all environmental laws.
The majority of batteries used on campus are used in microphones worn by actors in theater productions. The Wooster theater uses rechargeable batteries which are returned to a “dock” for recharging when not in use.Food Waste/Compost
Food scraps from our kitchen and dining room are picked up weekly by a local, large scale composting facility, that mixes food scraps with horse manure and wood chips to produce a high-quality garden mulch. This process comes full circle when we use this nutrient rich compost on our community vegetable garden and on flower beds throughout campus.
Dining - Food Choices
At Wooster School we have implemented many progressive and innovative practices that embody a healthy, safe, and sustainable dining lifestyle. We prepare foods from whole, fresh ingredients; limiting the use of processed foods and avoiding products containing artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and high levels of sodium. We use cleaning products which contain less packaging and are significantly less toxic to the environment than conventional chemicals. We offer napkins made from 100% recycled materials. Campus gardens are used as a resource for food and herbs, as well as sustainability programming and nutrition education. Food scraps from our kitchen and dining room are picked up weekly by a local, large scale composting facility, which mixes food scraps with horse manure and wood chips to produce a high-quality garden mulch. This process comes full circle when we use this nutrient rich compost on our community vegetable garden and on flower beds throughout campus.
Lighting
Low-voltage CFL bulbs are used campus-wide to reduce electricity consumption.
Classroom lighting is motion activated and will turn on/off as needed.
Smart Choices
We use real plates and stainless flatware to reduce plastic landfill waste.
Several high-use water fountains on campus have been fitted with bottle filling fountains to facilitate reusable personal water containers.
Gym vending machines were replaced with H.U.M.A.N. vending which offers more nutritious options that are lower in sodium and sugar.
Athletic teams bring reusable water bottles to games and practices fields to cut down on plastic waste.
Awards
2016 TownVibe Green Award - Honorable Mention
Awarded for overall campus-wide attention to green initiatives particularly recycling and composting.
2015 Green Restaurant Association
Awarded Wooster 2 Stars for implementing 18 beneficial environmental steps including food, water, waste, energy, chemicals, disposables and building materials.